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THE PURITANS 



DEDICATED TO THE INDIANA SOCIETY OF 
MAYFLOWER DESCENDENTS 



Copyrighted t9i7 by 

THE BUTLER PRINTING HOUSE 

NOBLESVILLE, INDIANA 



0£C 17 1917 

©CI.A47 9 697 

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THE PURITANS 

AN HISTORICAL POEM OF 

America and the Birth of Freedom 

WITH NOTES 
BY 

P. DeLEON |:A4.4J 






BUTLER PRINTING HOUSE 
NOBLESVILLE, INDIANA 



^-t-^ 

■^^v 



DEC ! 7 1917 



THE PURITANS 

An Historical Poem of 

AMERICA AND THE BIRTH OF FREEDOM 



OUR PILGRIM FATHERS 



1 — The Puritan Pilgrims! what a name to conjure with, 
men of Earth! 
Three hundred years ago they came and gave to Free- 
dom that new birth 

Which makes Autocracy unbend before a Sovereign 

people's will 
In Church and State — but hark ye! how our God his 

wonders did fulfill: 

6— From England into Holland fled, with grievance 
naught against their king — 
To worship as their conscience led chose they a home- 
less wandering. 

They, weak in numbers and in wealth, save in the 

wealth to dare and bear — 
Low-born but loyal Englishmen, who liked not Holland's 

tongue and gare. 
7 



TH¥. PURITANS 

Each longed in deed of sterling worth, to show allegi-' 
ance to his king — 
10 — Not in mere gold or founts of youth like Spanish 
venture sought to bring, 

But in sweet homes across the Deep, to make his king- 
dom track the sun — 

In more of lasting worthiness than brutal conquest 
ever won. 

Across old Plymouth's bar they saiUd, led on by Free- 
dom, all aflame, 
Like pillar' d fire in Egypt's land whence God of Hosts 
with bondsmen came. 

15 — And in a wilderness of sea, uncharted and unknown to 
man. 
Sought they Virginia's northern bounds, which then 
was where the Hudson ran. 

But glad they were, in those fierce gales, to land on 

any friendly shore, 
Albeit, so bleak and far away from that fair port on 

which they bore, 

Tho' weak in flesh, not one would land upon that 
welcome, wave-dashed beach, 
20 — Till solemn compact pledged they all, to God and King, 
and each to each. 

First written constitution that! — mark well the place 

and mark the day 
Where Freedom found a Hemisphere, eons prepared, 

to eons stay! 

8 



OUR PILGRIM FATHERS 

But superstition later came with all of bigot* s trail 
of woe, 

Which epidemic world-wide ran, nor spared the Puri- 
tans a blow. 

25 — The witches burnt at Salem-town, and Roger Williams 
forced to flee; 
The Quaker persecutions, rank, and Blue-laiv multi- 
misery, 

All teach how our Forefathers were but erring flesh, the 

like as ive, 
Possessed though of the strength omd will to break 

the fetters and go free. 

When human beings average well, their lapses, all, 
should be forgot — 
30 — For Peter thrice denied the Christ, and Moses brake 
the stones God wrought. 

Perfection doth prd^laim the God we worship not from 

love but fear — 
To err reveals a tie of kin which our affections hover 

7iear. 

The bulwarks of Free Government, and equal rights 

twixt Man and Man, 
O'er-balance far the weaknesses, charged up against 
the Puritan. 



THE PURITANS 

11 

OUR DEBT TO THE PURITANS 

35 — They gave us Liberty of Speech, and right to publish 
as we thought, 
Implanting rev'rence for a God, in worship as our 
conscience taught. 

As childhood shapes the life of Man, ivho late returns, 

tho' far may stray 
From living principles instilVd — so Nations in like 

orbits play. 

Most favor' d this our Nation was, and ive who in her 
precincts divell, 
J^O — That Freedom sang her cradle-song and taught her lips 
a God to spell. 

As like a comet, she may roam, and seem intent to 

loose her way — 
The laws that bind will bring her home, where she was 
safe, initially. 

The sons and daughters of our wars, who fan the patri- 
otic flame. 
Inspired are with noble zeal, and we their honor loud 
proclaim. 

J^5 — Descendants of the Puritans, who first set foot on Ply- 
mouth Rock! 
The honor, and chief burden, yours, that Doors of 
Freedom still unlock! 

. 10 



EVIDENCE OF DIVINE GUIDANCE 

in 

EVIDENCE OF DIVINE GUIDANCE 

Three years before the Pilgrim feet gave Plymouth 

Rock enduring fame 
The neighbors of Mas-sas-so-it were much cmcerned 

by star-like flame 

Which swept its lurid tail across, in ill-foreboding 
path, the sky 
50 — From East to West along that course which Stars of 
Empire travel by. 

In fright Patuxit Indians cried — who owned the land 

where soon would be 
A Nation born to set the World, in civics and religion, 

free — 

In fright at recent prophet-words, which they had 

scoff'd till lurid loom 
Of omen through a comet high, foretold the coming of 

their doom. 

55 — "Though like the sands" a Seer had said, ''in numbers 
now, your tribe may boast. 
For wickedness you are condemned to quickly vanish 
from this coast!'' 

As whirl-wind drops its funnel-end and picks out 

victims from the sky — 
So came a plague which swept that tribe as flies before 

a Winter die. 

it 



1. 

THE PURITANS 

Passed thus Patuxit title-claim, ere Puritans assert 
their will 
60 — On corn-land cleared and ready by the hand of God, 
for them to till. 

Yet, some there were who grumbled loud because they 

missed a warmer clime, 
With shores less bleak and better soil, where bare 

existence took less time. 

But we, in retrospect can see, with fuller knowledge as 

our guide. 
How Providence took them in hand and journeyed 
with them., side by side. 

65 — He guided them to that one spot where Indian rights 
no challenge gave. 
And spared them all uncertainty of purchase or of 
conquest grave. 

Their sandy loam and easy soil — so needful where no 

beasts were owned — 
Good Fortune found there on that coast, — else more 

in labor they had groaned. 

By game in season princely fed — by fish the finest in 
the Sea — 
70 — And friendship ofMas-sas-so-it, — could I sar el more in 
favor be? 



12 



THEIR SPECIAL PREPARATION 

IV 
THEIR SPECIAL PREPARATION 

The hand of God is further shown in binding them for 

His great plot, 
Not by the ties of wealth or blood, but by ideals for 

which they wrought. 

In common faith they all were bound, of high estate or 

low degree — 
When 'cross the German Ocean fled they into Holland 

to be free, 

75~With rustic Scrooby fades away the joy of farm and 
rural life, 
And Leyden makes them artisans at loom and press, 
in Labor's strife. 

And there, sequestered from the V/orld by habit, thought 

and language, strange — 
Did Providence inscrutable, the desfny of this Earth 

arrange! 

Ten years of common labor meant, all autocratic 
seeds were dead, 
SO— And Liberty's majestic tree was raised on equal 
rights, instead. 

The People there came to their own, for Ages sought, 

which Man did pray — 
And from that spark a flame was blown, which circles 

'round the World today. 
J3 



THE PURITANS 

Without probation such as that, to colonize would all 

been vain. 
When liberty means license, oft, to those whom Time 

alone can train. 

85 — Not forty years, but ten, were they as Israel in the 
Wilderness — 
*'For Glory of our God and King'', as oft their records 
do confess. 

Came pestilence and famine, both, in one short year at 

Plymouth Bay, 
Which put to proof their trust in God, and swept their 

numbers half away. 

Their leader to our Promised Land, like Moses — saw 
but not enjoyed — 
90 — They laid him 'neath the barley field, which stealth 
and strategy employed 

To hide depleted numbers from the Indian bands which 

skulked and pried 
Till Squanto's friend brought him to them, and he 

became their friend and guide. 




14 



SQUANTO MIRACUOUSLY SAVED 



SQUANTO MIRACUOUSLY SAVED AND 
SENT TO THEM 

He told ' them how a plague had swept the brave 

Patuxits from the land — 
And taught them how to plant the corn — a fish to Jer- 

tilize each stand, 

95 — He brought Mas-sas-so-it to them, and other Chief- 
tains f near and far — 
Who kept the peace for fifty years, till breaking out of 
Phillip's War. 

He showed them where to cast for fish, the cod and 

millet — bass, beside; 
He proudly counted them as friends, and never left 

them till he died. 

This S quanta was near Plymouth born, but spared the 
plague and tribal fate 
100 — By special Providence of God, in circumstance strange 
to relate: 

15 



1. 

THE PURITANS 

Kidnapped by white man ere the plague, — intent to 

sell him into Spain, 
Was rescued, he, hy British' ship, and years in England 

did remain. 

With knowledge got of Eyiglish ways, and mind im- 
proved — as British boast — 

Good Squanto when the chance occurred, was landed 
on his native coast 

105 — In time to help the Puritans, without whose aid they 
all had died: 
Let those who study miracles not turn this modern one 
aside. 




t6 



ORIGIN OF OUR THANKSGIVING DAY 

VI 

THE ORIGIN OF OUR THANKSGIVING DAY 

The setting of our Day of Thanks, vjhich Presidents 

do yet proclaim, 
Was founded on a miracle which Pilgrims saved ere 

famine came. 

Their genWous natures over-taxed ivith feeding Weston's 
hungry men 
110 — Till hope of life next winter through must on that 
summer's corn depend. 

So labored they from morn till night — whole families 

with good heart and will. 
And planted as the Indians taught — a fish well 

cover'd in each hill. 

With season's start, as they could wish, the corn was 

standing fair and green. 
But sun of summer laid it lovj, by drought as like no 

man had seen: 

115 — As Bradford wrote, it ''languished sore" and some was 
''parched like withered hay" — 
In humble prayer and great distress, they set apart 
a solemn day. 

It pleased the Lord to hear their prayer, and gracious 

speedy answer make; 
Hot was the morn and afternoon — no sign of rain the 

sky to break 

17 



THE PURITANS 

Yet, evening clouds came on apace, and shortly after 
that, a rain — 
120 — Siich sweet and gentle showers as made them rejoice in 
glad refrain. 

Its great abundance soaked the Earth, without a wind 

or violence 
Which made the Indians marvel much, as did all others, 

then and since. 

And afterwards, the season through, came showers 

right and weather rare 
Which so built up the corn and fruits that harvest 

time was full and fair. 

125 — Such comfort and rejoicing caused a day of thanks to 
be proclaimed 
Which each year since — three hundred times — by 
proclamation has been named. 

And as each year's Thanksgiving Day increasing 

mercy does reveal 
Decendants of the Puritans a special choice and charge 

should feel 

Of greatest weight on them imposed by reason of their 
blood descent 
130 — To fight for that Democracy which God in trust their 
Sires lent. 



18 



DEBTS OF THE PURITANS 

VII 

THE DEBTS OF THE PURITANS. 

The Puritans were hound in debt for transportation 

and support 
To 'Venturers whom Cushman coax'd Dame Fortunes, 

fickle hand to court. 

Half of their increase first vms pledged, of buildings, 

land, and goods, as well. 
Conditioned on such further aid as their distresses might 

compel. 

135 — But human-nature, then as novo, let idle pledge out- 
strip the will 
And London merchants promised more than they were 
ready to fulfill. 

Most men who lay a dollar down expect that hand to 

pick up two. 
Or break their pledges wantonly, regardless of the harm 

they do. 

Before the Speedwell and its mate weighed anchor and 
put out to Sea 
IW — Part of the Pilgrims' food vjas sold to make up a 
difficiency 

Which owners of the vessels asked before the voyage 

would begin — 
But Christian courage falters not at any sacrifice to 

win. 

19 



THE PURITANS 

The London purses tighter dosed as word of pestilence 

and need 
Came hack to make the hazzard more, and failure 

hovered close, indeed. ' 

11^5 — But He who notes the sparrow's fall and counts the 
hairs upon the head; 
Who sendeth rain upon the Earth and Elijah by the 
ravens fed 

Approved them by His miracles and led them to a 

fovored spot 
Where dusky neighbors friendly came and much their 

halting strangeness taught. 





20 



THEIR HOPE OF RELEASE FROM DEBT 



VIII 

THEIR HOPE OF RELEASE FROM DEBT 

Thanksgiving Day commemorates the answer to a day 
of prayer 
150 — Which drought and famine threatening y was followed 
by a harvest rare. 

The tide of their affairs was turned toward the better 

from that year, 
And surplus traded they for furs which Europe bought 

at prices dear. 

Their greatest aid to Indian trade was in the wampum 

money made 
Like beads from multi-colored shells which red-men 

coveted and laid 

155 — Strange patterns out, in mystic lore, for pipes of peace 
and belts of war: 
And as their surplus slowly grew, they pushed their 
enterprises far 

Along the coast now known as Maine, and traded up 

the Kennebeck 
Where never knavish Whites had been, the Indian 

confidence to wreck. 
21 



fHE PURITANS 

Soon many from the North came down that river in 
the early Spring 
160 — With otter, beaver and rich furs, to trade for much-loved 
wampum string 

And corn and peas, which shifless ways made them 

impotent oft to raise — 
As Pilgrims' wealth increasing grew, God's mercy 

held them in amaze! 

They visioned their release from debt to those Adven- 
tures who gave 

A grudging part of promised aid, and still withheld 
when need was grave. 




22 



MYLES"STANDISH SENT BACK TO ENGLAND 



IX 

MYLES STANDISH SENT BACK TO 
ENGLAND 

1S5 — Myles Standish, they to England sent, commissicn'd 
to investigate 
The fairest terms for their release, in payments and 
low interest rate. 

The outcome was a bond to pay a stated sum in yearly 

parts 
Subscribed by undertakers, eight, of solid men with 

staunchest hearts; 

And a monopoly of the trade by Patent Grant to them 
was made 
170 — With Indians on the Kennebeck, 'gainst competition's 
threatened raid. 



23 



1HE PURITANS 

X 
JOHN ROWLAND CHOSEN COMMANDER 
ON THE KENNEBECK 

A goodly house they built of logs, hard by where whirling 

waters run, 
And he who in the Mayflower came as servant, but 
more apt the son 

By widowed marriage of that man — the chief est servant 

of them all — 
Whose judgment in the face of death when raging 

waters did apall 

175 — Saved him when cast into the Sea by lurching of the 
broken ship — 
Was chosen fittest to command their fortunes on each 
trading trip, 

John Howland justified their choice, by profits from 
the Kennebeck, 

Which, year by year, made rapid growth, till competi- 
tion gave it check. 

For, much success was never known, but imitators 
sought to reap 
180 — Of harvest where they had not sown, an unearned in- 
crement to keep. 

The Gov'nor and Assistants six, with undertakers of 

the debt. 
Took counsel on their Patent Grant, how competition 

should be met. 

24 



MYLES STANDISH URGES RESISTANCE 



MYLES STANDISH URGES RESISTANCE 
TO INVADERS 

Myles Standish urged them to assert, with force suf- 

ficient for the fray, 
The full intendment of their grant, and interlopers 

drive away: 

185 — ^'John Hoivland, a staunch man we have, an under- 
taker of the debt; 
Assistant to our Governor — let him a goodly number 
get 

Whose wisdom hath his confidence, nor tested valor 

known to shrink, 
Wise in discretion," Standish spake, "'who have God's 

grace to act and think, 

And with a Christian courage make our mandate to 
such wayward men 
190 — Respected ere faint-heartedness, encourage them to sin 
again!" 

So said Myles Standish, arid his words had weight 

with those he counseled with 
Who list not of the tragedy which Fate man oft encom- 

passeth. 

25 



THE PURITANS 

XII 

THE DREADFUL FIRST WINTER AT 

PLYMOUTH 

O'er crowded in the Mayflower-ship, the Pilgrims 

landed weak and sore 
By resaon of their tardy trip, and hard conditions 

which they bore. 

195 — These made them all susceptible to dread pneumonia's 
quick embrac3 
When Winter's cold and landings wet, remaining 
vigor soon erased. 

The shacks they quickly improvised let cold and water 

penetrate 
Till half a dozen scarce were left on sick and dying ones 

to wait. 

Whole fam'lies sivept, or mayhap one — a son or 
daughter, young, was left, 
WO — So, scarce in teens when parents died, was Bess of 
Tilleys sore bereft. 

She solace found in virgin rare, who, like a second 

mother mixed 
Real tears of sorrow with her own, mid smiles of 

comfort oft betivixt. 

Thus Desire Minter, she whose name, bespoke things 

hoped that never came. 
Let one unslfish duty more her life of sacrifice lay 

claim. 

26 



JOHN ROWLAND'S COURTSHIP 



XIII 

JOHN ROWLAND'S COURTSHIP OF 
DESIRE MINTER 

205 — Both maids attended on the sick, and nursed John 
Rowland day by day 
Till he had mended and had learned to lean upon 
them heavily. 

He thought about his lonely state, and pondered 

theirs of worse degree 
Till conscience bade him break his vow, a life-long 

widower to be. 

As Laban put the elder first whe n Jacob served him 
seven years 
210 — John Rowland's sober sense of right scorned that which 
fancy oft endears. 

Tho' Bess, like cherries turning red, near changed 

temptation to desire 
He dreamed of her paternally, — not as a lover all 

afire. 

And with good conscience bravely spoke, to her the 
elder of the twain. 

How God approved the marriage state which they to- 
gether should attain. 

27 



THE PURITANS 

215 — The woman yet has not been born who could not sense 
the lover's ring 
In tone and actions, not in words, which oft another 
message bring. 

Desire Minter felt the lack of burning passion maidens 

court 
Which made refusal easier she at all hazzards must 

report. 

"You do me o're much honor, John,'' Desire replied 
in sober strain, 
220 — *'Tho God hath called my kindred home, I durst not 
of His will complain. 

''Your place is high in my esteem, and I exalted am 

to know 
The great respect you hold me in, which doth uplift 

my spirit so. 

"But love goes not from man to maid, nor maid to 

to man at beck and will. 
And in your effort to be just, you let not your affections 

fill 

225 — "That place an all-wise Providence intended when 
His children ynate — 
Besides, my heart controls my hand, and binds me to 
another's fate." 

Her speech, as like a thunder-bolt, first dumb'd her 
suitor with amaze 

28 



JOHN ROWLAND'S COURTSHIP 

But soon in seeming paradox, his heart was shouting 
''Lord he praised!" 

He visioned siveet Elizabeth, in solace, while with 
calm he spake: 
230 — "/ knew not, you were pledged to wed, else I had not 
presumed to make 

*' Proposals in the best of faith, which lack to you 

sincerely — 
No person else has raised a voice in challenge of my 

verity!" 

Man-like, he tried to simulate an anger that he did not 

feel; 
He first was piqued, then forced to join, when laugh 

from maiden's lips did peal: 

235 — ''Pray, John, let not your dignity upset the balance 
of your mind 
But let your love go out to Bess who fits in temperment 
your kind, 

"That she is not distaste to you, nor you to her, I 

fairly know 
She needeth loving hands to guide, and tenderness 
in turn will show; 

"I could not marry you, good John, beacuse I have no 
heart to give, 
2U0 — To Moses Talbot I am pledged, so long as both of us 
may live. 

29 



THE PURITANS 

" He is his aged mother's staff, in England where from 

childhood grew 
We up together and have loved, since each about the 

other knew. 

" He is adherent to our faith, which grieveth Mistress 

Talbot sore — 
She laycth all the blame on me, and I shall see him — 

never more!'* 

21^5 — No further speech the maiden gave, but sobbed as 
tears of meynory flowed, 
While Howland, wrapped in retrospect, forgot her 
presence as he stood. 





30 



JOHN ROWLAND'S VISION 



XW 
JOHN ROWLAND'S DOUBLE VISION. 

Bachcard in thought, their history scanned, — their 

seeming desolation here — 
The odium upon them heaped, since days of youth mid 

England's cheer 

Dissenters they, whom Defoe charged king James — too 
leniently inclined 
250 — Toward human greed ivhich takes an ell — hred 
regicides of CromiuelUs kind, 

And nurtured on New England shore a colony of 

malcontents 
Refusing Mother Country's tax while asking much in 

their defense. 

Such as Defoe, through narrovj eyes, saw England's 

church man's greatest boon — 
But not the eaglet in the West to'ard human liberty 

had flown. 

255 — Hail! Hail! The Mayflower, Carlyle writes, poor, 
common-looking, hired ship; 
Yet what ship ''Argo" built by gods can match the 
marvel of her trip? 
3f 



THE PURITANS 

She had the great Promethean spark — the life-spark 

giving, timely birth 
To transatlantic Saxon men — in greatest nation of 

our earth! 

The Golden fleece our Pilgrims sought was freedom 
from Established church — 
260— Sought they, like Saul, a little thing and found a great 
one in their search. 

They had the fire of heaven sent in power which they 

dreamed not of: 
Let all men honor Puritans, since God first honored 

them above. 

Defoe — Carlyle — each later born than those events 

they differ on — 
John Rowland vizualized both sides, in that brief 

7noment near their dawn. 





32 



THE HAND OF FATE 



XV 

THE HAND OF FATE 

265 — From Hovdand and his child-wife, young, a numerous 
progeny descend — 
They christened their first-born, Dcoire, in honor of its 
mother's friend 

Who, health fast foiling, year by year, good Doctor 

Fuller WMde it clear 
Must back to England soon return, ivhere winter's 

chill VMS less severe. 

As Fate ivould have it, when she sailed, she passed her 
lover on the way, 
270 — Whose mother, dying, left him free to seek her in 
America. 

By Hoidands he was well received, in more of love 

than mere respect. 
And with the expedition went to right the wrongs at 

Kennebeck, 



33 



THE PURITANS 
A'V7 . 

THE HOCKING AFFAIR. 

John Howlaud ?/.' their largest barque, which midships 

had bee)i spliced to tiro. 
With Alden second in command, sailed out of Plymouth 

with a crcic 

275 — Of care- picked men who oft had joined with him in 
enterprise to tnj 
That courage ajui devotion which the Puritan was 
k}!ow)} best bi/. 

John Hocking, Piscataway man from colony of 

Lords Saye and Brooke — 
His barque well fdled with Indian goods, a place 
above the Pilgrims took 

Between their house on Kennebeck and portage-falls 
of Ne-quam-kick: 
^80 — There, trad i tig. afiswered protest made, with loud 
defiance foul and thick 

With insult, daring them to do their worst to put him 

from that place 
And with much fiourish of his guns, he fiung defiance 

in their face. 

**Go cut his cable" orders came, *\ind suffer him not 

there to ride 
But down the rapid water drift with current and the 

ebbing tide!" 

34 



THE HOCKING AFFAIR 

:285 — Three men, with Moses Talbot, ivent, right read'ly in 
a swift canoe 
And cut his cable, whom, on deck, svjore what in ven- 
geance he would do. 

At Thomas Savory first he aimed, then changed as they 

sicung near his bow. 
And put his gun to Talbot's head with fierce invectives 

meant to cov;e. 

John Rowland, seeing, called to him, ''Shoot not my 
man, but for your mark 
290 — Take me who gave them the command to cut the cable of 
your barque! 

*'They but obey — give me the blame if any wrong was 

do:ie to you — 
Shoot me — not them — / stand full fair^shoot me, if 

shoot you're bound to do!'' 

But Hocking neither looked nor heard; he shooteth 

Moses in the head — 
And when the news to England came, by that one bullet 

two were dead! 

295 — John Hocking, crazed, his pistol took, but by the Lord 
his hand was staid 
From doing further hurt by shot from Pilgrims* 
barque. Himself was laid 

In death upon his moving ship — noiv swiftly drifting 

out to sea: 
Like it, he had his cable cut-and drifted into — mystery. 
35 



THE PURITANS 

*'Thou shall not kiW the Scripture saith, and of that 
law men have more dread 
SOO — Th^n all commandments Moses wrote, tho' none in 
briefer words are said. 

Malign report the Pilgrims charged with wilful murder 

and intent - 
Li)rds Sai/e and Brooke were much incensed, and Aldenj 

soon to Boston sent 

Was there within a prison thrown and laid till 

Standish went his hail 
7\) stand in court on viurder charge, which did on 

fuller kiwfwledge fail. 

S05 — The lives of Moses and Desire, in hope deferred upon 
this earth. 
But tipifij that sacrifice of those who gave our country 
birth. 

Unlooked for troubles hampered them — which but a 

few we here relate — 
Their work aful faith in what they did, brought them 
success where failures wait. 

Their daily lives of righteousness confused the hopes 
of lying tongues 
310 — Aiid made a name for Puritans which through all 
ages will be sung. 

P. De Leon. 



36 



NOTES 



(The marginal numbers refer to lines of the poem.) 

S — 12 "The Puritans in Holland did not forget — could not forget 
that they were Englishmen. During their ten years of 
residence at Leyden thoy did not ceafje to long for a return 
to the country which had cast them out. Though ruled 
by a heartless monarch and a bigotfid priest- 
hood, England was their country still. The unfarriiliar 
language of the Dutch grated hur.'jhly on their ears. They 
pined with unrest, conscious of tlieir ability and willing- 
ness to do something which should convince even King 
James of their patriotism and worth. It was in this 
condition of mind that about the year 1617 the Puritans 
began to meditate a removal to the wilds of the New 
World. There, with hon'ir--t purpose and prudent zeal, 
they would extend the dominions of the Englifsh king." 
Kidpath's History of the United States, paj;e 8!) 

16 — 22 At the time of the coming of the Puritans to America 
the northern boundery of Virginia v/as considered to 
extend to the mouth of the Hud.son River. 
"It had been the intention of the Pilgrims to found their 
colony in the beautiful country of the Hudson; but the 
tempest carried them out of their course, and the first 
land seen was the desolate Cape Cod. On the 9th of 
November the vessel was anchored in the bay; then a 
meeting was held on board and the colony organized under 
a solemn com.pact. In the charter v.hich they there made 
for themselves the emigrants declared their loyalty to the 
English Crov.'n, and covenanted together to live in peace 
and harmony, with equal rights to all, obedient to just laws 
made for the common good. Such was the simple but 
sublime constitution of the oldest Nev/ England State. A 
nobler document is not to be found among the records 
of the world." 

Ridpath's History, page 91. 
48 Mas-sas-soit, father of King Phillip, was the chief of the 

37 



THE PURITANS 

tribe of Wompanaog Indians, nearest neighbors to Ply- 
mouth. He entered into a treaty of peace \^ith the Puritans 
in 16-1 which continued !cr more then 50 years. He 
remained their fast friend while he lived. 

Bradiords' History of Plymouth Plantation vScribner^ 
page 111, 
51 In 1617. the Patuxit tribe of Indians, then occup>-ing the 
country where the Pl\-mouth colony was planted, was 
nearly depopulated by a great plague. One of 
the early chroniclers has written! "Some of the 
ancient Indians, that are survi\'ing at the wTiting hereof. 
do aifirm that about some two or three years before 
the first English arrived here, they saw a blazing star, or 
comet, which was a forerunner of this sad mortality, for 
soon after it came upon them in extremity. Thus God 
made way for his people, by removing the heathen and 
planting thejn in the land." 

Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, page 36. 
5o A Frenchman who had been captured by the Indians and 
mistreated by them, upon learning their language told them 
God would punish them for their \^ickedness. "But they 
derided him and said they were so many that God could 
not kill them. His answer was. that though they w-ere 
never so many. God had many )A-a>-s to destroy them that 
they knew not. Shortly after his death came the plague. 
a disease they never heard of beiore. and mightily swept 
them away." 

Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, page -ill. 
60 — 70 'It has been supposed by some that our ancestors were 
not fortunate in the selection of their plantations, and that 
they would have found much better land on the other side 
of the bay. But this is a mistake, for no part of Mas- 
sachusetts could be better suited to their condition. Had 
they settled down upon a hard and heavj*. though rich 
soil, what could they ha\-e done with it? They had no 
ploughs, nor beasts of the plough, and >-et their chiel 
subsistance was to be derived from the ground. The 
Pl\-mouth lands were free, light, and easy of tillage, but 
3S 



NOTES 

hard enough for poor pilgrims to dig and plant. The land 
yielded well, being new and unworn, And for fish, they 
could scarcsly have been better supplied; and the forests 
were as well supplied with game as elsewhere. Here they 
were also favored by the Prince of the country. The 
character of Massassoit was humane, and his friendship 
sincere. The treaty which he made with them, he faith- 
fully performed all his life long, whereas,in other localities, 
they might have fallen by savage violence. And, more- 
over. Divine Providence seems to have opened the door 
to the pilgrims at Plymouth by removing the native 
inhabitants, so as to make a place for their settlement 
there," 

Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, page 28, note. 
75 The Puritans, escaping from English persecution into 
Holland, settled in the city of Leyden. Many of them 
had been farmers living in the vicinity of the town of 
Scrooby, in England. At Leyden they took up weavihg, 
printing and other trades. 
79 The Puritans remained about 10 years at Leyden, in Hol- 
land, before sailing for America. 

89 John Carver, chosen by the Pilgrims for first Governor of 
Plymouth colony, died in the Spring of 1621. 

90 Nearly half of the Pilgrims died during their first Winter 
and Spring in America, and, that the Indians might not 
know their weakness by counting the graves, the Puritans 
leveled the surface of the burial field and planted it to 
grain. 

92 In March, 1621, an Indian speaking broken English came 
boldly among the Puritans. His name was Samosot. 
Soon afterwards he brought Squanto or Tisquantum, who 
could talk better English, and who remained with the 
Puritans until he died; and was of great holj) to them. 
Squanto brought Massassoit, the friendly Chief. 
Bradfords' History, page 110. 
99—106 Bradford's History, pages 111—112. 

109 John Weston, one of the merchants who helped the Pil- 
grims in London, brought over a colony of about "60 lusty 
39 



THE PURITANS 

men" in 1622, to start a colony of his own, and while he 
continued his voyage down to Virginia he left this large 
number of extra mouths all of the Summer of 1622, for the 
Puritans to feed, instead of bringing them needed assis- 
tance. 

Bradford's History, page 137. 

110—125 Bradford's History, page 152. 

131 — 148 The Puritans were too poor to pay for their own transpor- 
tation to America. A number of London merchants 
formed a stock company and their partly paid subscrip- 
tions furnished most of the first passage money. Part 
of it, however, had to be made up at the last minute before 
the ships' masters would put out to sea, by the sale of a 
quantity of the food supplies which the Puritans were 
taking with them. The merchants were known as the 
"Adventurers" and were under agreement to send supplies 
until the Colony became self supporting. This was not 
done, however, and nearly resulted several times, in dis- 
aster to the Colony. The Puritans had agreed that one- 
half of everything which they possessed at the end of six 
years, including lands and buildings, should belong to the 
Adventurers. 

149 — 164 A good harvest in 1623, followed a day of prayer for rain 
when drought had threatened the Puritans with famine. 
They set apart a day for thanks after harvest, which in- 
augurated our present Thanksgiving Day. The abundant 
harvest gave the Colonists a surplus to trade to the In- 
dians for furs which Europe coveted. The Colonists also 
learned how to make wampum beads which the Indians 
coveted and could not get enough of. Pushing out for 
new territory in which to trade, they established them- 
selves as the first white traders on the Kennebeck river 
in Maine, where they prospered and began to glimpse a 
chance for paying off their debt to the Adventurers. 
Bradford's History, pages 152-235-223. 

165 — 168 Captain Myles Standish was sent to England in 1625, but 
did not succeed in reaching an agreement on the debt with 
the Adventurers. In 1626, as Governor Bradford wrote, 
40 



NOTES 

"This year they sent Mr. Allerton into England, and gave 
him order to make a compensation with the Adventurers, 
upon as good terms as he could (unto which some way had 
been made the year before by Captain Standish) ; but yet 
injoyned him not to conclude absolutely till they knew the 
terms, and had well considered of them; but to drive it to 
as good an issue as he could, and refer the conclusion to 
them." An agreement was reached in 1627, by which the 
obligation was fixed at 1800 pounds, payable 200 pounds 
yearly. Governor Bradford wrote (page 215): 
"This agreement was very well liked of, and approved by 
all the plantations, and consented unto; though they 
knew not well how to raise the payment and discharge their 
other ingagements, and supply the yearly wants of the 
plantation, seeing they were forced for their necessities to 
take up money or goods at so high interests. Yet they 
undertook it, and 7 or 8 of the chiefs of the place be- 
came jointly bound for the payment of this 1800 li. (in 
the behalf of the rest) at the several days." The names 
of the undertakers of the debt, of the colony, were William 
Bradford, Myles Standish, Isaac Allerton, Edward Wins- 
low, William Brewster, John Rowland, John Alden and 
Thomas Prence. 
169 The patent grant covered all of the territory from Cobise- 
conte, where Gardiner, Maine, now stands, to the falls or 
rapids of Ne-quam-kick, near the present Winslow, Maine, 
and 15 miles on each side of the river Kennebeck. "And 
by virtue of the authority to us derived by his said late 
Majesties Letters patents, to take, apprehend, siese, and 
make prise of all such persons, their ships and goods, as 
shall attempt to inhibite or trade with the savage people of 
that countrie within the severall precincts and limits of 
his and their several plantations, etc." 
Bradford's History, page 304. 
171_175 John Rowland. According to tradition he married the 
daughter of John Carver, who was chosen to be their first 
Governor — "the chiefest servant of them all"— in whose 
family Rowland came in the Mayflower; Bradford says 
41 



THE PURITANS 

as a servant, but evidently not in a menial sense, judging 
from the prominent part which he took in affairs from the 
start. The daughter died before the voyage to America. 
The Mayflower encountered several severe storms, in one 
of which John Rowland was washed over board but was 
saved by his presence of mind in grasping and holding to a 
rope, "Ye Topsail Halliards we hung overboard," by 
which he was drawn on deck through "several fathoms" 
of the engulfing billows. — Signers of the Mayflower Com- 
pact, page 29. 

"One of the main beams of the midships was bowed and 
cracked, which put them to some fear that she would not 
be able to perform the voyage", but by a screw which one 
of the passengers happened to have "the said beam was 
brought into place again; which being done, and well se- 
cured by the carpenter, they resolved to hold on their 
voyage." 

Chronicles of the Pilgrim- Fathers, page 19. 
193 — 199 "But that which was sad and lamentable, in two or three 
months' time half their com.pany died, especially in Jan- 
uary and February, being the depth of winter, wanting 
houses and other comforts, being infected with the scurvy 
and other diseases, which this long voyage and their in- 
commodate condition had brought upon them, so as there 
died, sometimes two, sometimes three, on a day, in the 
aforesaid time, that of one hundred and odd persons, 
scarce fifty remained. 

Of those that did survive in this tim.e of distress and 
calamity that was upon them, there was sometimes but six 
or seven sound persons, who (to their great commenda- 
tion be it spoke) spared no pains night to day to be help- 
ful to the rest." 

Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, page 35. 
200 "John Tillie and his wife both died a little after they came 
ashore; and their daughter Elizabeth married with John 
Rowland, and hath issue as is before noted." 
Bradford's History, page 412. 
42 



NOTES 

203 Desire Minter came in the Mayflower as a member of 
Governor John Carver's family, to which family John 
Rowland also belonged. 

Bradford's History, page 407. 
249 — 254 Daniel Defoe, best known as the author of "Robinson 
Crusoe" was at one time a popular essayist. In his 
"Shortest Way with the Dissenters" he wrote (about 
1700) : "The first execution of the Laws against Dissenters 
in England, was in the days of King James I; and what did 
it amount to? Truly, the worst they suffered was, at their 
own request, to let them go to New England, and erect a 
new colony; and give them great privileges, grants, 
and suitable powers; keep them under protection, and 
defend them against all invaders; and receive no taxes or 
revenue from them! 

"This was the cruelty of the Church of England! Fatal 
lenity! It was the ruin of that excellent Prince, King 

Charles I 

Had he so rooted the Puritans from the face of the land, 
which he had an opportunity early to have done; they had 
not had the power to vex the Church, as since they have 
done." 

250 Human greed is such that it has crystalized into the 
proverb "Give an inch, will take an ell." 
255—262 The writings of Thomas Carlyle, 

265 In 1650, William Bradford wrote (Bradfords' History, 
page 410) "John Howland, married the daughter of John 
Tillie, Elizabeth, and they are both now living and have 
10 children, now all living; and their eldest daughter hath 
4 children. And their 2 daughter, 1 all living; and other 
of their children mariagable. So 15 are come of them." 
John Hov/land was born about 1593, and died at Plymouth 
March 5, 1673. He married at Plymouth before 1624, 
Elizabeth Tilley, who was born about 1607, and died at 
Swansea, Dec. 31, 1687. 

267 "This year (1627) it pleased God to visit Plymouth with 
an infectious fever, of which many fell very sick, and up- 
wards of twenty died, men, women, and children, and 
43 



THE PURITANS 

sundry of them were of their ancient friends; amongst the 
rest, Mr. Samuel Fuller then died, after he had much 
helped others, and was a comfort to them; he was their 
surgeon and physician, and did much good in his place, 
being not only useful in his faculty, but otherwise, as he 
was a godly man, and served Christ in the office of a 
deacon in the church for many years, and forward to do 
good in his place, and was much missed after God removed 
him out of this world." 

Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, page 117. 

268 "Desire Minter returned to her friends, and proved not 
very well, and died in England,." 
Bradford's History, page 410. 

273 The Puritans, needing a larger boat to hold more goods on 
their trading trips, and the ship-carpenter who built the 
two small boats which they had, being dead, an ingenious 
house-carpenter of their colony "tooke one of the bigest 
of their shallops and sawed her in the middle,and so length- 
ened her some 5 or 6 foote, and strengthened her with 
timbers, and so builte her up, and laid a deck on her; and 
so made her a conveniente and wholesome vessell, very 
fitt and comfortable for their use, which did them service 
7 years after." 

Bradford's History, page 213. 
277—304 Bradford's History, pages 304 to 309. 

The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 2 page 11, gives the 
following account of the "Hocking affair" which happened 
in April, 1634: "Mr John Howland went up to him 
(Hocking) with our barke and charged the said Hocking 
to waye his Ankchors and depart who answered hee would 
not with fowle speeches. Mr. Howland tould him that 
hee would not now suffer him ther to ride, John Hocking 
demanded what he would doe whether he would shoot; 
Mr. Howland answered no but he would put him from 
thence and ordered three of his men goe cutt his cable, and 
bad Moses Talbott goe with them who accordingly went 
very reddyly and brought the Canow to Hockings cable 
he being upon the deck came with a carbine & a postole 
44 



NOTES 

in his hand Sz presently presented his piece at Thomas 
Savory but the Canow with the tide was put nere the bow 
of the barke which Hocking seeing presently put his piece 
almost to Moses Talbotts head, which Mr. Rowland 
seeing called to him desiring him not to shut his man but 
take himselfe for his mark saying his men did but that 
whihc hee commanded them and therefore desired him 
not to hurt any of them if any wrong was done it was him- 
selfe that did it and therefore coled again to him to take 
him for his marke saying he stod very fayer but Hocking 
would not heare nor looke towards our barke but presently 
shooteth Moses in the head, and presently tooke up his 
pistell in his hand but the lord stayed him from doing 
any further hurt by a shot from our barke him.self was 
presently strooke dead being shott neare the same place 
in the head wher he had murderously shot Moses." 



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